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How are Apprentice Rangers chosen?

Aptitude tests: A ranger will administer a series of practical tests on a small pool of candidates who have applied for the position. These will involve tasks such as tracking animals, moving unseen, navigating a patch of wilderness and more. These challenges focus on a candidate's mental acuity, creativity, and resilience.

Applicants will be judged on the following Four traits:
1) Intelligence and creative problem-solving
2) Natural curiosity and high perception
3) Agility and the ability to move quietly
4) Strong integrity and a sense of justice

A ranger apprentice is trained in many skills. They tend to be focused on wilderness survival, stealth, combat, and intelligence gathering. A successful apprentice is agile and resilient, has a keen understanding of the natural world and how to operate within it, often unobserved.

Candidates for Apprentice Ranger will be given the following scenarios to work thru:

Covert movement: The apprentice learns to move silently and unseen through many terrains. This involves using natural cover, shadows, and remaining perfectly still when necessary.

Evasion: Apprentices are taught to use tactics to escape and evade pursuers and move undetected at night.

Camouflage: Apprentices learn to blend into the background using their surroundings and being aware of the elements that would give them away.

Tracking: This involves recognizing tracks, reading broken branches, and determining how recently a trail was made. Apprentices usually practice on animal tracks. They also test their skills on unsuspecting commoners.

Archery: Apprentices typically start with a lower draw-weight recurve bow advancing to the more powerful longbow. Training emphasizes instinctive shooting and making the first shot count, often firing in volleys to disrupt enemy formations.

Knife fighting: Rangers are often trained in close-quarters combat using their knives. Techniques including defense to parry attacks and unarmed grappling.

Throwing knives: The apprentice masters throwing knives, which are used as a ranged attack when a bow is not available or practical.

Unarmed combat: Training in hand-to-hand techniques like striking and grappling are essential to self preservation.

Herbalism: A ranger apprentice learns to identify and use edible and medicinal plants. They must understand how to forage for food and create salves or poultices for minor injuries.

Hunting and trapping: Apprentices are trained in various hunting methods, including traps and snares. They also learn to properly prepare and preserve what they catch.

Cooking: Apprentices are taught how to cook their food, from basic meals to more complex dishes using natural ingredients.

Shelter building: They construct low-profile, effective shelters for protection against the elements.

Firecraft: Apprentices learn to build smokeless fires and manage embers to conceal their location.

Mapmaking and navigation: A apprentice must be able to read maps, draw their own, and navigate using signs like the sun and stars.

Horsemanship: Apprentices are trained to ride long distances, care for, and communicate with their trained Ranger horses.

Tactical planning: extensive training in strategy and tactics, so that they may act as scouts and advisors during militry action

Observation: keen eye for subtle details, from a flicker of movement to an improperly replaced item on a shelf.

Discipline: Maintain composure and focus under pressure, a trait brought about by intense physical and mission training.

Sensory deprivation: The candidate is blindfolded and taken into the woods. Using only their other senses, they must find their way back

The survival mission: The candidate is left in a remote area with only a simple tool, such as a flint and steel, and must survive for several days. A successful apprentice doesn't just survive they also build or secure or A concealed shelter and find reliable food and water sources.

The survival mission and craftmanship are often combined due to similarities.

Craftsmanship test: The candidate is given only a small knife and challenged to craft their own equipment, such as a new bow, from materials found in the wilderness.

The completing of these tests does not guarantee acceptance. The final decision will be made by the local Master Ranger, with consideration given to the recommendation of the testing Ranger.

Once accepted the apprentice Ranger will be assigned to Journeyman Ranger or A Senior Ranger for a period of six years. This six year assignment is for the purpose of training. Upon completion of training the apprentice will be tested again. After this second testing the decision will be made as to the fitness of the applcant.